Picture this: a sun-dappled forest just outside Cannes, where the air hums with ideas and the faint glow of laptops lights up the night. Developers, founders, and visionaries gather not just to code, but to dream up the future. This is Oz City, a week-long retreat in Valbonne, France, where the worlds of artificial intelligence and Web3 collide in a burst of creativity and collaboration. From June 21 to 29, 2025, 80 handpicked innovators will live, work, and build together, prototyping applications that could redefine how we interact with technology.
A New Kind of Tech Retreat
Unlike your typical conference with stuffy meeting rooms and endless PowerPoint slides, Oz City feels more like a summer camp for tech nerds—except with higher stakes and better Wi-Fi. Set in the serene, wooded hills of Valbonne, this pop-up builder village offers a unique blend of hands-on coding, fireside chats, and outdoor demos. It’s not just about writing lines of code; it’s about sparking conversations that could lead to the next big breakthrough in decentralized intelligence. I’ve always believed that the best ideas come when you’re surrounded by like-minded folks in an environment that feels alive, and Oz City seems to nail that vibe.
What Makes Oz City Special?
Oz City isn’t your average hackathon or networking event. It’s a carefully curated experience designed to foster deep collaboration and rapid prototyping. The retreat brings together a diverse group—developers tinkering with code, researchers diving into agentic systems, and founders refining their go-to-market strategies. The goal? To build AI-native Web3 applications that push boundaries.
- Co-living and co-building: Participants live together, fostering a tight-knit community where ideas flow freely.
- Structured prototyping: Daily feedback from investors and mentors ensures projects stay sharp and focused.
- Immersive environment: From outdoor coding sessions to late-night brainstorming by the fire, the setting inspires creativity.
The retreat’s focus on agentic systems—AI that can act autonomously to achieve user goals—sets it apart. Imagine a DeFi agent that rebalances your portfolio in real time or an AI-powered NPC in a GameFi world that adapts to your playstyle. These are the kinds of ideas participants will explore, and I can’t help but get excited thinking about the possibilities.
Innovation thrives when you mix diverse minds with real-world challenges.
– Tech event organizer
The Heart of Oz City: The Builder Day Hackathon
At the core of Oz City is the Oz Builder Day, a 24-hour hackathon happening June 27–28. This isn’t just a race to churn out code—it’s a chance to build and ship AI-native applications that could shape the future of Web3. The hackathon splits into two tracks, catering to different types of innovators:
- Builders Track: Perfect for those starting from scratch, this track is all about turning bold ideas into working prototypes.
- Founders Track: Designed for existing projects, this track focuses on shipping new features, testing business models, or refining strategies.
What’s cool about this setup is how it balances raw creativity with practical feedback. Participants get access to mentors, investors, and protocol teams who offer real-time insights. It’s like having a seasoned co-founder looking over your shoulder, nudging you toward success.
NEAR Partnership: Powering the Agentic Internet
One of the most exciting parts of Oz City is its partnership with a leading blockchain for AI. This collaboration introduces a dedicated track called “The Agentic Internet: Building AI-Powered Web3 Apps.” It’s all about leveraging tools like NEAR AI, Shade Agents, and chain abstraction to create smarter, user-owned applications.
Here’s what participants in this track can expect:
- Workshops: Hands-on sessions on building with intents and deploying autonomous agents.
- Office Hours: Live debugging with core engineers and technical teams.
- Technical Q&A: Direct access to developer relations experts for real-time problem-solving.
- Demo Day: A chance to showcase projects to a jury, with evaluations based on AI integration, technical depth, and ecosystem fit.
This track dives into practical applications, like DeFi agents that optimize financial strategies or AI NPCs that make gaming more immersive. The focus on chain abstraction—tools that simplify blockchain interactions—makes it easier for developers to create user-friendly apps. I’ve always thought the real magic of tech happens when complex systems feel effortless to use, and this track seems laser-focused on that goal.
Why AI and Web3 Are a Perfect Match
Let’s take a step back: why should you care about the intersection of AI and Web3? At their core, both technologies are about giving power back to users. AI enables smarter, more adaptive systems, while Web3 ensures those systems are decentralized and user-owned. Together, they could unlock a future where technology works for you, not the other way around.
| Technology | Key Benefit | Real-World Example |
| AI | Autonomous decision-making | DeFi agents optimizing investments |
| Web3 | Decentralized ownership | User-controlled data in apps |
| AI + Web3 | Smart, user-owned systems | AI NPCs in decentralized gaming |
Imagine a world where your financial advisor is an AI agent that runs on a blockchain, making decisions based on your goals without a middleman skimming fees. Or picture a social platform where your data stays yours, powered by AI that curates content without creepy algorithms. That’s the kind of future Oz City participants are building toward.
The future of tech lies in systems that empower users, not control them.
– Blockchain innovator
Who Should Join Oz City?
Oz City isn’t for everyone, and that’s by design. The retreat is hyper-focused on builders who are ready to roll up their sleeves and dive into AI x Web3. Whether you’re a developer with a knack for coding, a researcher exploring decentralized intelligence, or a founder with a vision for the next big app, there’s a place for you. The catch? Spots are limited to 80 participants, and selection is competitive.
Here’s a quick breakdown of who’d thrive at Oz City:
- Developers: Those eager to experiment with AI agents and blockchain tools.
- Researchers: Folks diving into the theory and practice of autonomous systems.
- Founders: Entrepreneurs looking to refine their Web3 projects with expert feedback.
The best part? If you’re selected, participation is free. That’s right—no hefty conference fees or hidden costs. Just bring your brain, your laptop, and a willingness to collaborate.
The Bigger Picture: Why This Matters
In a world where tech often feels like it’s moving too fast, events like Oz City remind us why we got excited about innovation in the first place. It’s not just about building cool apps; it’s about creating systems that give users more control, more freedom, and more opportunities. The convergence of AI and Web3 could be the key to unlocking that future, and retreats like this are where the groundwork is laid.
I’ve always found that the most transformative ideas come from unexpected collisions—different minds, different skills, different perspectives. Oz City is engineered to make those collisions happen. By bringing together developers, researchers, and founders in a setting that’s equal parts inspiring and practical, it’s setting the stage for breakthroughs that could ripple across industries.
How to Get Involved
Ready to jump in? Oz City is accepting applications for its June 21–29, 2025, retreat in Valbonne, France. With only 80 spots available, you’ll need to bring your A-game to get selected. The application process is straightforward but competitive, so make sure your passion for AI x Web3 shines through.
Event Snapshot: - Dates: June 21–29, 2025 - Location: Valbonne, France - Focus: AI-native Web3 applications - Key Event: Oz Builder Day hackathon (June 27–28) - Cost: Free for selected participants
For those interested in partnerships—whether you’re an investor, mentor, or protocol team—Oz City is open to collaboration. Reach out to the organizers to explore how you can contribute to this groundbreaking event.
Final Thoughts: A Glimpse Into Tomorrow
Oz City isn’t just a retreat; it’s a glimpse into what’s possible when brilliant minds come together to tackle big problems. The fusion of AI and Web3 is more than a buzzword—it’s a chance to rethink how technology serves us. Whether you’re coding a DeFi agent, designing an AI-powered game, or dreaming up a new kind of social platform, this is where those ideas take shape.
As someone who’s always been fascinated by the intersection of tech and human potential, I can’t help but feel optimistic about what Oz City could spark. Maybe it’s the romantic in me, but I believe events like this are where the future starts to feel real. So, if you’re ready to build, connect, and maybe even change the world, Oz City might just be your launching pad.
